$5000 budget for home theater

5173 Views 26 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Nezzer, Mar 24, 2013

Nezzer

Discussion Starter · Mar 20, 2013

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the forum, but I've been lurking for a little while, trying to learn more.

I am moving into a house and want to put a media room for mostly movies and sports into a room in the basement.

The room is 88" tall, 11.5' wide, and 30.5' long. It doesn't have any windows. It's basically a long room with an entry about 16' back from the front wall.

I want a projector, a 110-120" screen, and 5.1. 3D is not a priority. Later, I would like to add a zone for music upstairs, but that will be in another budget. I don't have any components and don't mind buying used or refurbished equipment.

I appreciate any feedback and suggestions.

Thank you

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Jungle Jack

· #3 · Mar 20, 2013

Nezzer said:
Hello everyone,

I'm new to the forum, but I've been lurking for a little while, trying to learn more.

I am moving into a house and want to put a media room for mostly movies and sports into a room in the basement.

The room is 88" tall, 11.5' wide, and 30.5' long. It doesn't have any windows. It's basically a long room with an entry about 16' back from the front wall.

I want a projector, a 110-120" screen, and 5.1. 3D is not a priority. Later, I would like to add a zone for music upstairs, but that will be in another budget. I don't have any components and don't mind buying used or refurbished equipment.

I appreciate any feedback and suggestions.

Thank you

Hello,
Welcome to HTS. You have set aside a very prudent amount of funds to facilitate building an excellent HT.
For a Front Projector I would recommend the BenQ W7000. It has won a number of awards and is available for around $1800.
Here is a review:http://www.hometheater.com/content/benq-w7000-3d-dlp-projector-0
And another http://www.projectorreviews.com/benq/w7000/index.php
For a Screen I would go with a Stewart GreyHawk RS G3

For speakers I would recommend going to listen to some to establish what appeals to you. Unfortunately Newegg has sold out of some Klipsch floorstanding speakers that were literally available for $1000 off down to around $550 a pair and they still have the matching Center Channel and Surrounds. I would check out Audiogon for used speakers and do Zip Code search to ideally find something relatively close. Infinity, Paradigm, Klipsch, PSB, and Definitive Technology are just a few brands to look at for high value to performance speakers.
The best current deal on a speaker I can currently think of is the SVS SBS-02. We long recommended it here when it retailed for $300 and it is currently available for $149 a pair which is awesome. Using a Screen, you could order 3 pairs and use one for the Center Channel and have perfect timbre matching.
Here is the link:https://www.svsound.com/sbs-02

For a subwoofer, I would go with dual HSU Research VTF-2 MKiV given the size of the space. They sell for $559 plus shipping and are simply a fantastic value. Here is a link:http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2mk4.html
For quite some time it was available for $519, but it has gone back to $559.

For an AVR, I would go with an Onkyo TX-NR809 especially as having a quality Video Processor takes on even more importance when using a front projector/screen setup. The HQV Vida is perhaps the best on the market and the 809 offers Audyssey MultEQ XT and THX Certification and Post Processing. It is a steal at $599 as it retailed for $1100.
Here is a link:http://www.accessories4less.com/mak...NR809-7.2-Channel-Network-A/V-Receiver/1.html

That just leaves cabling. Go to Monoprice and save a fortune. The SVS's are quite good, but do check out what is available on the used market.
Best,
J

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Jungle Jack

· #8 · Mar 21, 2013

Nezzer said:
The BenQ W7000 looks really nice. I have seen a few of the Epson Powerlite Home Cinema projectors in action. How does the BenQ W7000 compare to the Epson 3010 and 5010? I know the 5010 will be pushing my budget.

I hate that I missed out on the Klipsch deal. I had been looking at the RF-82s.

I’ve seen the HSU Research VTF-2 MKiV mentioned quite a bit on these forums so that’s probably what I’ll get. Same for the praise on the Onkyo 809.

Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on SnapAV Dragonfly screens? I might be able to pick one up fairly inexpensively.

I just started reading some info about baffle walls, thanks for the suggestion. I’m not sure if it’s something I’ll do yet or not.

Hello,
I gave serious thought to recommending the 5010, but with your budget and needs, I figure the BenQ makes the most sense and is somewhat in between the 2 Epson FP's.

RF82's are excellent, but tend to be mighty expensive if needing to do this all on a $5000 budget. However, I do agree that speakers should represent the lions share of a HT. However, when a Front Projector in the mix, it makes it harder and is why I was so apt to recommend the Klipsch Icon WF-35's.
Best,
J

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Jungle Jack

· #11 · Mar 21, 2013

Nezzer said:
What do you mean it makes it harder? Do you mean for staying within my budget?

The Panasonic AE-8000U looks nice, too.

The more I look at stuff the more I think my budget is going to change :gulp:

Hello,
The latter. With the front projector and screen taking up approximately 50% of your budget, it makes it impossible to follow the general rule of allocating the majority of ones budget towards speakers.

Joe's recommendation for the Panasonic is stellar and think it close to impossible to better the price to performance ratio when talking about a new PJ. It does start to get close to my personal favorite Sony VPL-30HWES SXRD Projector however. That is favorite when talking about relatively reasonably priced.
Best,
J

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Jungle Jack

· #17 · Mar 22, 2013

Hello,
The Sony VPL-HW30ES really is a special FP. I have been consistently most impressed with the PQ.
Here are some professional reviews:
http://www.hometheater.com/content/sony-vpl-hw30es-3d-sxrd-projector
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2397792,00.asp
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article/test-report-sony-vpl-hw30es-3d-hd-projector
http://www.projectorreviews.com/sony/vpl-hw30es/
JVC also uses an all but identical technology and their Projectors have also received rave reviews. JVC calls it D-ILA.
Best,
J

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Jungle Jack

· #23 · Mar 23, 2013

Nezzer said:
Thanks again everyone.

Here's what I'm looking at right now:

Epson 5020
Vutec 110"
Onkyo 809
Klipsch RF52, RC52, RB51
Klipsch sw110

If I do that I can stay fairly close to my original budget for the components. Is there a big difference between that Klipsch sub and the HSU one?

I'll post a thread on my pre-wire soon. Thank you for the suggestion?

So for what i have here any thoughts? Options? Suggestions?

Thanks again.

Hello,
There is a huge difference between the HSU and the Klipsch. If thinking Klipsch, Newegg has the $999 Klipsch Reference RF-12 for $349 currently.
Here is the link:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882780078
Also, you could save a bundle by purchasing the Icon Series Center Channel and Surrounds.
The CC retails for $499, but is available for $199 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882780086
And the Surround retails for $800 for the pair, but is available for $360
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882780087

While they use a really nice African Wood Veneer, they are dark enough that they would look fine with the RF52's and are will match fantastically in terms of timbre as they all use a Horn Loaded Design.
Cheers,
JJ

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